Shadwell e-bike fire survivors sue battery manufacturer

The survivors of an e-bike fire in east London which resulted in a man’s death are taking legal action against the manufacturer, in what their solicitors believe is the first UK case of its kind.

The fire at Maddocks House in Shadwell last year was started by a faulty lithium ion e-bike battery that was charging at the time, London Fire Brigade (LFB) previously said.

The men who lived there when the fire broke out have told BBC London they are still terrified of loud noises and sirens because it feels like they are “reliving that same night”.

They are suing the e-bike battery manufacturer for damages under the Consumer Protection Act, and for negligence.

The BBC has attempted to approach the company for comment.

Father-of-two Mizanur Rahman, 41, died after the fire at the flat on Cornwall Street on 5 March 2023.

It was later discovered that the three-bedroom flat was home to about 18 people.

As part of the legal case, the group are also suing the landlords of the property for damages under the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957 and negligence.

Landlords Aminur Rahman and Sofina Begum admitted housing offences including failing to supply a valid gas safety certificate and knowingly allowing overcrowding at Thames Magistrates’ Court.

Some of the men who lived in the flat with Mr Rahman and escaped from the blaze said they were still deeply affected by what happened.

“If I hear any bangs, it doesn’t even need to be loud, any bangs… firecrackers going off around (me), I feel like I’m reliving that same night over and over again,” Nazmush Shahadat said.

Another resident of the flat, Sojibe Hossein, said he now avoided fire and flames because they make him feel scared.

“Sometimes if I listen and (hear) a sound from an ambulance or fire brigade…I’m thinking probably it’s going to be bad now, it’s gonna happen with me again,” he explained.

LFB said e-bikes and e-scooters cause fires in the capital every two days and more regulation is badly needed.

Currently, there are no British or European standards to control what e-bike batteries can be sold in the UK – there are also no rules governing chargers.

In September, the government published its Product Regulation and Metrology Bill which is aimed at strengthening product regulations and marketing for items including e-bikes and batteries. It is due to go to the Committee stage for debate in November.

Imran Khan KC, whose firm is representing the men, said some sellers were “putting things on the market knowing that these are bad batteries, and doing it because they can make money out of it and no-one’s going to do anything about it”.

“I think the government is beginning to realise that people are dying from these defective batteries and poor manufacturing,” he added.

The men’s legal case was announced on the same day the Department for Business and Trade launched a “Buy Safe, Be Safe” campaign which urged the public to buy safe e-bikes and e-scooters and avoid what it called “rogue online sellers”.

Product Safety Minister Justin Madders said: “We just hope when people are making these purchases that they’re thinking about where they’re buying them from, they’re looking at the safety record of a particular bike and the batteries, and actually being confident that what they’ve got isn’t going to be something that will go up in flames.”